How Did The Puritans Influence Their Colonies

From the years 1607 to 1700, religion impacted the development of the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Chesapeake colonies by shaping legislation, populations, and culture. The Plymouth colony was founded on the basis of Separatists, or those who wanted to separate from the Church of England. This group created the Mayflower compact, an agreement between male settlers to follow what the majority dictated. The compact was signed in order to keep civil order within the colony. This was the first step toward self government, and was used as a basis for other constitutions.

Religion influenced the government of the Puritans. They believed that they each had their own boundaries or power given by the Lord (Doc H). Puritans wanted the church and government to intertwine and aid one another, creating a stronger bond. In addition, the Puritan’s emphasis on religious conformity and the attainment of land for their model society led them to engage in wars with neighboring Indian tribes. For instance, William Bradford fought with Pequot tribe in the Pequot War, believing that God is the source of their victory and therefore praise him (Doc D).

In an effort to maintain the principles established in Winthrop 's speech, ministers in New England created a set of practices known as the New England Way, which was made to strengthen the power of the church. However, as evidenced by rebels Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson, some individuals became unsatisfied with the ironclad Puritan Church. One of the core threats towards Winthrop 's shining vision was the notion of a market economy, which emphasizes an individuals free will in making economic decisions. This form of economy directly contradicts the New England Way, and demonstrates the change of values among the colonists. Other important factors in the erosion of New England Way include expansion, war with the Native Americans, and religious

They believed in America they could establish a colony whose government, society, and church were all bases on the Bible. In the 1630’s the Puritans set sail for America. They did not wish break with the Church of England, like the Pilgrims did; they only sought to reform it. They also believed that people existed for the glory of God, and that their first concern was to do God’s will and so to receive future happiness. Basically, if they honored their duties to God, they would be blessed; if they did not, they would be punished.

Most commonly used to justify the actions of an individual or group, religion is imbedded in most modern day society through the use of religious rhetoric. This is also true of 17th century Puritan colonies, who justified the peaceful construction of their community, in 1630, and its episode of mass hysteria and violence, which occurred in 1692, with religion through religious rhetoric (Wintrhop, 1630; Hall, 1988; LeBeau, 1998; Robinson, 1991). Both cases had themes of brotherhood, Godly intervention, and Puritan acceptable behavior. By comparing the rhetoric used in the creation of the “City Upon a Hill” and the Salem Witch Trials, we can observe that even though events used religious rhetoric and had similar themes, their diction and tone

Since the beginning of colonization in North America, Anglo-Saxon Americans have continuously been moving west. Some might say that their westward colonization was destined; a right given by God. While this expedition began from the colonization of the New world, it was truly identified as Manifest Destiny in the 1840s. Anglo-Saxons saw it as their duty to spread civilization and replace darkness with light. After the second Great awakening, many truly believed that God Himself had blessed the advancement of the American Nation.

Mormons themselves express their unity with the Christian faith, and argue to be Christians. The Mormon religion seems to believe that the purpose of life is to “receive a physical body, exercise agency and learn to choose between good and evil, learn and gain experience that will help you become more like your heavenly father, and to form family relationships that may become eternal.”(Mormon.org) Now that the foundation has been laid with regards to the belief system of the individuals in the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, it is important to discuss their doctrine on death and the afterlife. The beliefs of death and the aftermath of what occurs is taken from the book of Mormon. This is where theses church members receive their beliefs from and what they remain with. It is stated that at the time of death, “The spirit and body separate and "the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

The main focus of the people of New England whilst settling was to form a community and society that would prosper and last. In the 1630 document titled “A Model of Christian Charity”, John Winthrop wrote about the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and some of the rules and principles that the citizens there would abide by. For example, Winthrop stated, “…We must be knit together in this work as one man…We must consider that we shall be us a city upon a hill”. He is referring to how the people of Jamestown would work together as one and form a community of such prestige that other colonies will look up to it, as if it was placed on top of a hill for all of the world to shadow after. This document does show bias to New England because of Winthrop’s

What I noticed most about the founding of the American Colonies was the way religion played a vital role both in their establishment and in the early stages of their development. Although MindTap for U.S. History 1st Edition, 1.2 and 2.5 both explain that the primary reason European countries began to explore and colonize was their desire to expand trade and grow their economies, we can still see religion playing an important if occasionally subtle role. In the document, Instructions for the Virginia colony written in 1606, the author states that essential to the colonies success is their ability to be one with each other and with God. As we move further through history we come to the, History of Plymouth Plantation written in 1650 by William

Puritans- was a dissenter religious group which was trying to reform the Church of England by what they referred to it as purifying it. Some of the first Puritans included Anne Dudley who was the first English-speaking poet and Simon Bradstreet. Their main goal to was to create a “holy” community in New England. John Winthrop- the first governor and main person in charge of creating a model new society of Puritans in America. Separatist- more commonly called Pilgrims came from England on the Mayflower in 1620 to escape religious persecution starting their settlement in Holland and then moving on to America.

A group of people think they need to reform the church by going to a new world and start a new church. Members like John Winthrop was a chosen one. He went to North America because he was the chosen one by God to carry out his mission in America. And he thinks

"There are several sorts of religious, not only in different parts of the island but even in every town; some worshipping the sun, others the moon or one of the planets" (Sir Thomas More). A "City upon a Hill" is meant to be an example that everyone follows. John Winthrop, a religious Puritan, led the Puritans to their own utopia. The Puritans were a religious group who wanted to purify the church from within. They came from England.

Muller is describing the importance of religion to a conservative’s role in life. God and the Holy Bible act as their moral compass to how they should operate with other people in their communities. Additionally, southern conservative beliefs originated from their values and from the influences from God and the